Tras Huellas Historiograficas Galileo Venezuela I

An analysis of the publication of the Fr. Enrique M. Castro entitled Galileo of 1893, considered to be the first paper in Venezuela featuring this important protagonist of science, is made. It gives rise to an interesting debate with Mr. Luis Bouquet, Jr. on the Galileo trial of 1633. The debate is analyzed taking into account the Bouquet reply as well as the Castro´s rebuttal and his subsequent re-rebuttal. It showsclearly that Bouquet, in this debate, does not convince enough as to rebuke the defense made by Castro in favor of the Catholic Church in the Galileo case. Castro proves that this case is nothing more than an exclusive disciplinary matter of the Inquisition against Galileo, and not to the Church, as a whole, against the development of science or natural philosophy. Unnoticed or ignored for more than one century,the particulars and details of the Castro´s work are unveiled in this investigation and offered to the historiography of Galileo in this country.